KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan welcomes a joint report launched today by a group of Afghan civil society organisations and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission entitled, Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace: Laying the Foundations for an Inclusive Peace Process.

Print press release in English - Dari - Pashto

Download the People's Dialogue report in English - Dari - Pashto

Download the civil society press release in English - Dari

This report notes the views expressed by hundreds of Afghans from a wide range of professions, backgrounds, ethnicities and regions from all over the country on issues of peace, security, justice, economic development, and reconciliation.

“The People’s Dialogue report lays the foundations for an inclusive peace process by not only giving voice to the views of over 1,500 Afghan men, women and youth on critical issues that affect their lives, but also enables Afghan civil society to carry these voices to Bonn, Germany, where the International Conference on Afghanistan will be held tomorrow,” said Georgette Gagnon, director of Human Rights for UNAMA.

“UNAMA fully supports this important initiative. We need to listen to what Afghan men and women are saying in their communities and give them a stake in any future peace process,” she added.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The full report can be downloaded in English, Dari or Pashto from the following websites:

www.sanayee.org.af
www.cshrn.af
www.aihrc.org.af
www.acsf.af
www.afghanwomennetwork.af
http://unama.unmissions.org

2. The Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace [People’s Dialogue] is an initiative in which ordinary Afghans can express their views through inclusive public discussions on the prospects for peace, reconciliation, security, economic development, human rights and the rule of law.

3. Thirteen civil society organisations / networks and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission oversee and sponsor these public discussions to bridge what participants described as a “gap between communities and the Government and international community”.

4. The People’s Dialogue aims to empower people by raising awareness among the Afghan population about peace and reconciliation processes, ensure that people’s legitimate grievances, concerns and aspirations are heard, amplified and incorporated by policy-makers into all processes and plans for achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan.